Electrical system



March 5, 1968 A. summer-mus ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15. 1964 March 5, 1968 A. SIRRINGHAUS 3,372,312

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed 001;. 15. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,372,312 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Artnr Sirringhaus, Dortmunder Landstrasse 6i, Herdecke-Ende, Germany Filed Oct. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 404,037 Claims priority, applicationggermany, July 31, 1964,

11 Claims. 61. 317-134 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a system for performing one or more of the functions of locking and unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle, turning on its ignition, and starting its engine. More particularly the invention relates to asystem which accomplishes these functions with exceptional reliability and by means of simple apparatus.

All systems which have previously been proposed for the performance of these functions have had the drawback, among others, that each numeral of the predetermined code number combination which causes the system to'function had to be set up by a separate rotary switch, selector dial, or push button. Moreover, the order in which these code numbers were set up Was arbitrary and independent of the time which elapsed while the settings were being made. Consequently, these previously proposed systems were not only structurally complicated, but were also not theft-proof since there was no limit on the time which an unauthorized person could spend in determining by experimentation the correct code number combination.

A further disadvantage of these previously proposed systems was that, even though the theft-proofing means may have been capable of actuating the starter in addition to closing the ignition circuit, and even of doing so repeatedly, yet they did not provide a controllable starting impulse, nor did they provide electrical protection against entrainment of the starter pinion by the flywheel of an internal combustion motor when that motor was running.

Moreover, previously proposed systems did not attempt to provide electrical protection for all doors, trunk spaces and glove compartments by means of the apparatus provided for the activation of the ignition and starting currents. Consequently these previously proposed systems did not provide a motor vehicle which afforded convenient operation without any key at all.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the invention to provide a system which is free from the disadvantages described above and which, when installed in a motor vehicle, provides keyless protection against unauthorized persons, while performing automatically, in response to the setting up of the proper code number combination, all those functions which the driver would normally have to perform to put the vehicle into operation.

This, and other objects which will appear, are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by means of a combined door, ignition and starter actuating system provided with a plurality of rotary switches, each having a plurality of selectable contact points corresponding to different code numbers. Different ones of the contacts of these rotary switches are electrically energized with opposite polarities. Electrical connections are provided between the rotary switches, and these connections comprise an electrically heated negative resistance. The self-starter is also included in the connections, as is a resistor by means of which the duration of the starting impulses is adjustable.

For further details reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 2 illustrates a portion of .an alternative embodiment of the invention. The same reference characters designate similar elements in both figures.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the apparatus there illustrated comprises 2 multi-contact rotary switches I and II by means of which the code numbers are set up. Each of these switches has 11 possible contact points, numbered 0 through It) in each instance and selectable in conventional manner for connection to a central connecting point by a rotatable arm. Each selector arm is attached in conventional manner to a control knob (not shown). This knob makes it possible to manually cause the selector arm to contact at will any one of the numbered contact points. Connection of the selector arm to any given contact point corresponds to the setting up of the corresponding combination code number. The apparatus of FIGURE 1 also includes a microswitch 61 which is connected to the gearshift lever.

As is explained more fully hereinafter, the circuitry illustrated in FIGURE 1 includes switch elements for locking and unlocking the doors, as well as for activating the ignition, automatically starting the motor, and preventing start-up while the vehicle is in gear.

The circuitry of FIGURE 1 is powered by a power supply which, in motor vehicles, normally consists of a storage battery. The positive terminal of this battery is connected to terminal, or connector lug 16, while its negative terminal is connected to terminal, or connector lug 7. Assume now that the correct code number combination is 2, 3', 4', 5 and that the control knob which operates the selector arm of rotary switch I is turned so as to cause that arm to contact contact point 2' of the switch.

If then the control knob which operates switch II is set to code number 3, relay 25 will close. One end of this relay 25 is connected to the positive terminal of the storage battery, while its negative terminal is connected via resistor 23, connector lugs 20 and 11 and contact 3' of rotary switch II to contact 2 of rotary switch I. Thence the negative terminal is further connected via connector lugs 14 and 17 and rectifier 24 to the other end of the winding of relay 25.

The same voltage which is applied to relay 25 is also applied to negative resistor 31. The term negative resistor denotes a resistor having a negative temperature coeflicient, that is one whose resistance decreases rather than increasing in response to increases in the temperature of the resistor. The temperature of this negative resistor is raised by the heating element 32, which heats up when incorrect settings of the rotary switches have caused relay 25 t close. This heating coil 32 is connected via lugs 27 and 7 to the negative terminal of the battery. The positive terminal of the battery is connected to heating coil 32 when current is drawn from that positive terminal of the battery via lugs 16, 15 and an improper numerical setting of rotary switches I and II establishes a connection to lug 1. All improper code number settings of switches I and II are permanently connected via lugs 10, 21, 16 to the positive terminal of the battery. This heating effect enhances the security of the system since it compels the user to make his selection of the proper combination of code numbers within a predetermined time interval. Without it an unauthorized person might be able to make use of the motor vehicle as a result of selecting the proper numerical combination by chance.

To select the third and fourth numerals of the combination the rotating switch I is used again for the third numeral, being set in the present illustrative case to the numeral 4 while switch II is set to the numeral 5. Under these conditions the current from the positive terminal of the battery flows via lugs 16, 21, It), contact 5' of switch II, and 4 of switch I, lugs 13, 18 and rectifier 34 to relay coil 33. This relay 33 closes because the negative terminal is grounded via contact 26 of relay 25.

Thus, by proper setting up the 4 digits of the combination on two rotary switches, within the proper time interval, all four contacts 34, 35, 36 and 37 of relay 33 are closed.

Contact 34 provides the holding current for relay 33. This holding current has the effect of preventing the relay from releasing upon resetting of rotating switches I and II to their zero positions. Relay obtains its holding current by way of the previously closed contact 26, resistor 28 and rectifier 29.

The successive closing of both relays 25 and 33 cause current to be simultaneously applied to (a) Door openers 62 and 63 of the magnetic door locks via contact 37, and lug 3,

(b) The turning-on of the ignition via contact 36, lug 4 and ballast lamp 64 which provides a visible indication that the ignition is on,

(c) The self-starter via contact 35.

The setting up of a four-digit combination by means of only two rotary switches and relays 25 and 33 cooperating therewith is made possible by the fact that currents of opposite polarities flow through the switches at different switch settings. For example, a negative current flows at switch settings 2 and 3' which are made, respectively, in the first stage of adjustment of switches I and II. On the other hand, positive current flows upon selection of switch settings 4 and 5' in the second phase of the adjustment process of switches I and II.

The self-starter mechanism is activated by the potential which is simultaneously applied via contact 35 to rectifier 40, resistor 41 and capacitor 60. Voltage is also applied to transistor 44 via resistor 41. The transistor 44 which is required for control of relay 49 is connected to the negative terminal of the battery via rnicroswitch 61 of the gearshift lever, connector lug 6, resistor 42, contacts 45 and 46 of relay 53 and resist-or 47. Microswitch 61 serves to open the ground connection of the self-starter when the vehicle is in gear. This guarantees that the starter does not operate when, for reasons of safety or carelessness, the vehicle has been left in gear.

To relays 48 and 49 there is connected the negative terminal of the battery via microswitch 61 and lug 6. Transistor 44 energizes relay 49, thereby closing con-tact 5t). Thereafter relay 48 closes and establishes connection between contacts 51 and 52. The voltage which is permanently applied to contact 51 via lug 16 can then reach the relay winding 65 of starter 66 and start the motor by means of that starter. If the motor catches in response to the first starter impulse a voltage is applied to relay 53 via ballast lamp 64, lug 5 and resistor 54. Since relay 53 is permanently connected to the negative terminal of the battery via lug 7, relay 53 then closes. This interrupts the connection between contacts 45 and 46. A further starter impulse can then not occur since no negative potential is applied to transistor 44 via resistor 47. Relay 53 therefore remains closed as long as the motor runs. If the motor stops for any reason, or if it does not start up in the first place, relay 53 again releases, and contacts 45, 46 close again, so that the starting impulse is repeated as often as necessary until the motor finally runs. The length of the starter impulse is also adjustable by the variable potentiometer resistor 47 and capacitor 60. Capacitor 45 serves to establish the periodicity of recurrence. Rectifiers 24, 29, 30, 67, 36, 39, and 56 through 59 serve either to prevent sparking or as reverse current blocking rectifiers, assuring current flow in a predetermined direction.

The manner in which a system such as shown in FIG- URE 1 may be switched off from two separate locations is shown in FIGURE 2, to which reference may now be had. In FIGURE 2 there are shown two pairs of rotary switches, each pair comprising a switch I and a switch 11 respectively corresponding to the similarly designated rotary switches of FIGURE 1. However, in the arrangement of FIGURE 2, that pair of rotary switches which is further designated by the reference character A (namely switches IA and IB in FIGURE 2) may be attached to the outside of the vehicle body, while that pair which is further designated by the reference character T (name 1y switches IT and HT) may be attached to the inside of the body. Switching-off is accomplished by moving, in either instance, the first switch of the pair from its rest position, i.e. from contact 0 to an unoccupied contact This yields an incorrect switch setting, since these contacts have no output lead connections, i.e. do not correspond to any predetermined correct code numbers.

It will be understood that, although the embodiment of the invention described above accomplishes automatically door unlocking, ignition turn-on and engine starting', it is also within the scope of the invention to perform only some of these functions automatically in response to the proper adjustment of the rotary switches. In particular it is contemplated that only the door unlocking and ignition turn-on may take place automatically, the the engine starting being left for the vehicle operator to accomplish by other means.

It will also be understood that, although the invention has been described in its application to motor vehicles, it contains all of the apparatus and provides all of the functions necessary for securing other instrumentalities. Accordingly it is wtihin the scope of this invention to utilize it as a keyless locking system for such installations as factories, bank vaults, houses, garages and the like.

I claim:

'1. A system for turning on the ignition and automatically starting the engine of a motor vehicle, said system comprising: a plurality of rotary switches; means responsive to the operation of said switches to unlock the doors of said vehicle, each of said switches having a plurality of electrically energized contact positions corresponding to plural code numbers, different ones of said contacts being energized with opposite polarities.

2. The system of claim 1 characterized in that said rotary switches are coupled to each other by connecting means comprising an electrically heated negative resistor.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a selfstarter operatively connected to said rotary switches, and a potentiometer for adjustment of the starting impulse duration.

4. A numerical combination control system comprisa number of multiposition switches equal to one-half the digits of said combination;

means for electrically energizing with one polarity those contacts of said switches cor-responding to onehalf of said digits; and

means for electrically energizing with the opposite p0- larity those contacts of said switches corresponding to the other half of said digits.

5. The system of claim 4 characterized in that said means for electrically energizing said contacts comprises a relay whose actuating winding is shunted by a resistor having a negative temperature coefiicient of resistance.

6. The system of claim 5 further characterized in that said resistor is equipped with a heating coil energized in response to the selection of certain contacts of said switches.

7. The system of claim 6 further characterized in that energization of said heating coil beyond a predetermined time period causes said relay to become deactuated.

8. The system of claim 4 characterized in that in said switches the said contacts energized with said one polarity correspond to the first half of the series of digits constituting said numerical corbination and the said contacts energized with said opposite polarity correspond to the second half of said series.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of control means activated in response to selection of said digit corresponding contacts prior to said relay deactivation.

10. A numerical combination control system comprismg:

a number of multiposition switches equal to one-half the digits of said combination;

means for electrically energizing with one polarity those contacts of said switches corresponding to one-half of said digits;

means for electrically energizing with the opposite p0- larity those contacts of said switches corresponding to the other half of said digits; and

means responsive to the said energization of all said contacts to unlock the doors and turn on the ignition of a motor vehicle.

11. A numerical combination control system comprisa number of multiposition switches equal to one-half the digits of said combination;

means for electrically energizing with one polarity those contacts of said switches corresponding to onehalf of said digits;

means for electrically energizing with the opposite polarity those contacts of said switches corresponding to the other half of said digits; and

means responsive to said energization of all said contacts to unlock the doors, turn on the ignition and start the engine of a motor vehicle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LEE T. HIX, Primary Examiner. 

